Is asking us to identify a genre on-topic?

Question

We had a question posted recently: There are games of this kind?

I voted to close this as a game-rec, but I'm not 100% sure that that's correct.

I think the asker basically wants to know if a certain type of game exists, and what that genre is called, rather than focusing on wanting to know a specific game that fits in that genre.

Note that the first answer mentions a few example games, but that the meat of the answer is that these are "turn-based tactical games".

So this got me thinking, is asking us to identify a genre on-topic? Is doing so a game recommendation?

Answer 1

I voted to close the question as off-topic for a different reason:

Questions asking for help identifying a game, whether based on a description, or feature list, or any other set of criteria are off-topic; this blog post might help. We allow an exception for identifying games based on an actual piece of the game, such as screenshots or audio clips.

The format of the question isn't great, which led me to an assumption that the OP is asking for a list of games that meet specific features (which is also off-topic).

I don't think the shopping rec reason is a good fit for a close-reason because the OP isn't asking for someone to recommend games... just list games that are in that specific genre. Anyway, don't use this opinion to vote to reopen to only close for a different reason.

Referring to DCShannon's meta post.. I think asking what the name of a genre for a specific game is fine (although it may receive down votes because the answer would be easy to determine with a basic search of the game in question).

Answer 2

Yes. It is a "game recommendation" as in it asks us to find a number of games that fits a criteria. That's not something we allow, because we tried and it went poorly. The community especially disliked two things about game-rec in general:

• having to guess what the asker was thinking of, as opposed to answering the question as it was asked (what would you REALLY like? what game are you REALLY trying to remember?)
• the potentially unbounded number of games that could fit in the criteria, and how that affects answering and voting (1 answer per game? What does voting mean then? 1 answer with a list? Why not use a wiki then?)

The idea of giving a list of criteria to fulfill was born out of an attempt to circumvent the first point, but the second point still applies. Questions that ask to list games fitting a number of criteria are also off-topic.

However, if the criterion is a piece of the game itself, the question becomes objective and well-defined, and defining the set of games much simpler.

So while we wouldn't allow a question on what games you'd liked if you liked Laharl from Disgaea as a character, and we wouldn't allow a question asking for a list of games featuring Laharl, if you have a specific Disgaea CGI to identify, that's fine. We may not LIKE your question, but the specific nature of the beast means the arguments we use to close game-recs do not apply to game-id.

Answer 3

It should be on-topic.

There are several types of games, and each genre as distinct features. First Person Shooters are based on a First Person Gameplay, involving shooting some kind of projectile. Call of Duty? Yes. Link's Crossbow Training? Yes. Both are FPS.

Now what if I ask, are there any games in the Zelda franchise that are also FPSs, the answer to that question would be indeed off-topic, as it would be asking to identify a game. Link's Crowssbow Training to be exact.

But what if I asked if any there's any game who has attempted to be a first person shooter, but while using a medieval weapon? Would that be on topic? That's what this discussion is about.

I think it's on topic because

Game mechanics and terminology

are on topic.

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Therefore, should a question regarding whether X is an RPG or an FPS ; or a question regarding whether if there's a game in y genre should be on topic - Do not confuse this as having an answer dictating that games should be given in a list, where every answer is equally valid. No. It's a simple yes or no question, who can be backed up by an example, preferably something that is generally known in order to give a good example:

Are there any games in a Fantasy Medieval Setting with character customization?

Yes, there's Skyrim

Has anyone ever tried to publish a game revolving around Market?

Yes, Rookwood studios with The Guild 2